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News and Views | October 2013
A Publication of the California Department of Education STEM Office
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Statewide Coordinator
Anne Stephens
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Fall has arrived! The leaves on our dogwood trees are beginning to turn and their red seeds are ripening. Come November, a flock of cedar waxwings will descend upon our backyard, just as they have done every fall for the past twenty years, and spend several days gorging themselves before moving on. Soon the chortle of sandhill cranes will fill the valley sky as they return to winter in the Sacramento Valley rice stubble.
This annual homecoming reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Rachel Carson:
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes
after night, and spring after winter."
Fall definitely reminds us of "repeated refrains." As environmental educators, we can help expose children to the comfort found in natural cycles; a comfort that can contribute to a sense of resiliency and well-being, especially during times of change. Educators are most definitely experiencing a time of change! Across California teachers are working hard to integrate the Common Core State Standards, with the Next Generation Science Standards right behind. With this in mind, we hope you have had a chance to visit the new and improved www.CREEC.org web site. Every day, providers from all over the state are adding their programs and events to the resource directory and calendar to help teachers expand upon the experiences that they offer students.
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Do you work with chemicals when teaching science? There are new OSHA HAZCOM standards! The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has aligned its HAZCOM standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The GHS update is intended to provide a common approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets.
Starting this October, schools with chemical stockrooms will need to start migrating toward this new system.OSHA has developed several resources available to help you during the implementation phase of the revised HAZCOM standard on OSHA's Hazard Communication Web Page. There you'll find documents that explain the changes to the standard, a fact sheet, a review of the HAZCOM training requirements, new "Quick Cards", and information on the new GHS Pictograms. NAAEE Invites educators to contribute to the new young adult version of
The Story of Stuff!
Since the 2007 launch of The Story of Stuff film and the 2010 launch of the accompanying book, Annie Leonard has received thousands of requests from educators for material for a younger audience. She's now starting to work on a non-fiction book covering these issues for a young adult audience (grades 3-8).
If you are an educator and have experience with this age group, please take a moment and help Annie ensure the book meets the needs of students and educators by completing the survey and sign up for updates.
Dr. King's Dream and Environmental JusticeThe latest EPA Environmental Justice In Action blog post by Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's Chief of Staff, reflects on the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington and the unfinished work of environmental justice. To read more, visit http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2013/08/dr-kings-dream... |
October 25-27: California Science Teachers Association Conference, Palm Springs, CA Website October 24-26: National Science Teachers Association, Area Conference, Portland, OR Website October 18-20/ November 1-3: Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE) Fall Conferences Website November 18-19: 1st Annual California STEM Conference, Sacramento, CA Website March 27-29, 2014: Green Schools National Conference, Sacramento, CA Website |
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EEI : Education and the Environment Initiative
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EEI Live! Are you looking for Professional Development Credit?
Beginning October 10, 2013, at 4pm, the EEI team will be offering weekly hour-long webinars hosted by dynamic Teacher Ambassadors. The fall EEI Live! webinar series will focus on EEI Common Core strategies with each session targeted at a specific audience - K-5, 6-8, 9-12, or administrators. Complete the webinar and you'll qualify for a free class set of materials for an EEI unit. Visit the "Get Trained" calendar! Are you unable to attend on Thursdays? Each webinar presentation will be posted on the EEI website for you to view at your leisure.
Want Professional Development credit?
The EEI Continuing Education course starts October 28 th, where you can earn university credit or certificate hours for learning to teach EEI. On-line based, you make the schedule and teach the unit you want - just a few of the many ways the EEI Curriculum makes it easy for teachers. For the course syllabus, cost, how to register, and future course dates, visit the website.
EEI at Green By Example Summit and Expo
The EEI team will be presenting two sessions at the upcoming Greening By Example Summit & Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center on November 6, 2013. The hot topic of Next Generation Science Standards will be presented in "Smooth Your Transition to NGSS with EEI's Outstanding California-Specific Science Curriculum" and the equally popular topic of the Common Core State Standards will be addressed in"Build Your Common Core Teaching Strategies with the EEI Curriculum". For more information about this event or to register for one of the teacher scholarships before they are gone, visit the website
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Grants, Awards, and Contests
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For a complete listing, please visit Grants on CREEC.org!
Take on the EcoChallenge Deadline: October 30, 2013
The NW Earth institute challenges people to choose one action to reduce their environmental impact and stick with it for two weeks. What will you do?
Are you interested in winning a share of $2,000,000 in technology and prizes for your school? This fall, Samsung is giving public schools nationwide the opportunity to discover the power of technology by participating in its annual Solve for Tomorrow contest.
Save Energy and Win Awards Deadline: November 15, 2013
This competition give student the chance to learn about energy, develop techniques for reducing energy consumption, and save money in their own homes by reducing household energy use.
Get to Know Contest! Deadline: November 1, 2013
This contest encourages students to get outdoors and share their outdoor experiences through art.
Sea Turtle Fundraising Contest Contest runs until November 15, 2013 Your class can save baby sea turtles and win great prizes at the same time! Three classes will win an eco-prize pack for each student and one teacher will win a free sea turtle trip to Costa Rica.
Green Ribbon School Award Deadline: December 27, 2013
The U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition award honors schools that are exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates STEM, civic and green career pathways.
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Opportunities for Students and Teachers
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Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program Application Deadline: December 15, 2013 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program provides funding for highly accomplished U.S. primary and secondary level teachers to take part in an intensive professional development program for three to four months abroad. More at: http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org/program NOAA's 2014 Teacher at Sea Program
Apply by October 31, 2013
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program provides teachers a hands-on, research experience at sea, giving them unique insight into oceanographic, hydrographic, and fisheries research by facilitating partnerships between educators and world-renowned NOAA Scientists. More at: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is an award-winning, nonprofit water education program and publisher.  The program facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and the establishment of internationally sponsored Project WET programs. The Water Education Foundation is the California Coordinator for Project WET. Find a workshop in your area! |
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CREEC Regional e-Newsletters are a publication of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Office, California Department of Education.
Copyright � 2013 Reprints and Permission: Although CREEC holds the copyright to this email, we grant permission to use our copyrighted text for a variety of education related purposes, and therefore encourage dissemination and sharing via social media and other reprint, reproduction or dissemination whether electronic or hard copy print.
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